Distance control attachment for tractors



Dec. 1, 1925- 1.563.791

W. B. RICHARDSON ms'rmcn cournox. ATTACHMENT FOR TRACTORS Filed April10. 1924 Patented Dec. 1, 1925.

lJNt'lEl) WILLIAM BETIS RICHARDSON, DOGKERSS PLAINS, VIA "WAII-G-AEATTA,AUSTRALIA.

DISTANCE CONTROL ATTACHMENT FOR Application filed April 10-, 1924.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, WILLIAM BETTS'RICII- meson, a subjectof the King ofGreat Britain and Ireland, residing at Dockers Plains, via angaratta, inthe State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Distance Control Attachments for Tractorsand I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in theart to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to tractor attachments to allow a tractor to bestarted, stopped, and steered from a trailer by a driver on the trailer,which may be an agricultural machine which the driver will also control,instead of the two machines requiring two men. My devices do not preventcontrol of the tractor from the tractor seat if the latter has anoccupant, nor do they hamper such movements relatively to one another ofthe tractor and the trailer as are desirable. The details of myinvention will be explained by reference to the accompanying drawings,in which scales vary.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of part of a tractor and part of atrailer with my attachments.

Figure 2 is a side view, partly in section, of my steering connection.

Figure 3 is a sectional view through a bearing containing the rear of mysteering rod.

Figure 4 shows part of a clutch pedal connection.

Figure 5 shows the said clutch pedal connection modified.

1 is the tractor steering wheel to which I fix by suitable means a plate2, which carries a lug 3 to which is attached a joint 4. 5 are clips bywhich plate 2 is removably attached to the steering wheel spokes.

To joint 4 which is shown of double knuckle type (although a universaljoint would function in like manner) I attach a longitudinal member 6 ofa telescopic auxiliary steering rod. The longitudinal mem-v ber 6slidably engages the fore and middle parts of a longitudinal member '7of the steering rod, one of these parts beinga tube in the caseillustrated.

Member? at its rear 7 projects through a movable supporting bearing 8,which is mounted on a pillar 9 carried by the'trailer.

TEACTOES.

Serial No. 705,679.

The pillar 9 has stays 9 The bearing 8 contains a spiierical rotatableperforated block 11 supported between cups 14 having threaded stems 1:?which carry adjustment and locking nuts. The block contains an aperture12 of circular cross section, and within the said aperture extends therear part of the longitudinal member or rod v7 which may be rotatedfreely. The aperture 12is fitted with a wear-taking sleeve 13. Movementsof the trailer 10 due to varying ground surface and varying directionsof draught are not duplicated by the bearing and are not necessarilylike the movements of the tractor.

The seat 10 of the trailer is at any point convenient to the auxiliarysteering wheel 17 which is carried on the rear of rod 7.

The clutch pedal of some forms of tractor is (as shown at 18) providedwith a flange 19 to which I connect, by bolt 20, for example, one ormore lever links 21, the latter being connected, as by bolt 22 to alever 23. In cases in which the pedal has no flange 19 I fix an anglebracket 19 thereto as an equivalent.

23 shows a lever which has a relatively short limb 23 which is pivotedto a fulcrum, a bracket 25 being suitable, attached to the tractorframe. 'Ilhe lever has a relatively long limb 28" which has'an end 23having means to receive a shackle 2,4 at the fore end of a cable orequivalent flexible connection 24. The rear 24 of this cable is shownweighted at 24, and supported on part of the trailer frame.

On cable 24 is an eye or hook 24 in a position to enable the cable to befixed against pull from either end so that the cable will holdthetractor clutch in dis engaged position. I provide to engage the eyeor hook 24 a member 24 When my attachment is not required, it mayberemoved, but the lever 23 may be left in position, as-itmay prove usefulto enable the tractor pedal to be conveniently controlled.

Modifications of detail may be introduced while retaining thelongitudinally adjustable parts of the auxiliary steering rod.

When my invention is in use the adjustable members 6, 7 movetelescopically, ac-

line. The combined operative length of the members 6, 7, Will be fromtime to time Whatever is convenient according to the trailer and tractorconnected, the distance between them varying in practice. t

hen a driver occupiesseat 1O he will control tractor progress by meansof flexible connection 24, lever #3, link device 21, and clutch pedal18; and he will steer the tractor by using the auxiliary wheel 17 andthus the joint 11, members 6, I, and joint l. He will also operate thetrailer controls (not shown).

1. Means for controlling the steering Wheel of a tractor tromatrailerincluding asocket member, a universal joint connecting the frontend 01 the socket member to the steering Wheel of the tractor, a ballmounted for universal movement on the trailer and having a bore, and anauxiliary steering wheel having a rod passing through said bore andextending into the socket, said rod and socket being constructed toturnin unison. i

2. Means as claimed in claim 1 including supporting plates bearingagainst said ball, and means for adjusting said supporting platesvertically.

3; Means as claimed in claim 1 in which the bore of the ball is providedwith a tubular lining; of cylindrical cross section, the portion of therod passing through said lining having an angular cross-section.

In Witness-whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

W LLIAM BETTS RICHARDSON.

